Dialogue - Mohamed Hassan Al Sheikh
- George Ovanesyan, CEO of Oxidian" We launched a solution Axidian Shield To discover identity threats during our participation in Black Hat Middle East & Africa 2024
- Georgi Ovanesyan, CEO of Exidian: Saudi Arabia is a global technology hub and we are proud to contribute to supporting Saudi Vision 2030
In light of unprecedented technological developments and widespread cyber threats, leading IT and cybersecurity companies continue to provide advanced innovations and solutions to address these challenges. One of these companies, which specializes in IT solutions, authentication, identity security management, and comprehensive access solutions, is Accedian, which recorded a distinguished presence at Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2024.
During the Black Hat Middle East & Africa 2024 exhibition, we had the opportunity to meet Mr. George Ovanesyan, CEO of Oxidian, and the following are the highlights of the interview:
First, tell us about Oxidian.
Oxidian is a global identity security software provider, headquartered in the UAE, with branches in Lithuania and Singapore and a global presence, our extensive partner network includes over 150 partners across various countries and regions.
We offer complete identity security solutions, including Identity and Access Management (IAM), Privileged Access Management (PAM), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) management, and Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR).
Saudi Arabia is a key market for us, and participating in Black Hat Middle East & Africa, the leading global cybersecurity event hosted by the Kingdom, is a strategic priority for us, an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, showcase our solutions, and strengthen our presence in the region.
What is Oxidian’s vision for the current landscape of digital transformation and cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in enhancing its cybersecurity landscape, ranking first in the United Nations Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
As Saudi Arabia evolves into a global technology hub, we are proud to contribute to the growing cybersecurity ecosystem and support the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The digital transformation in the Kingdom is not a traditional transformation, but rather a huge technological leap across all sectors, driven by wise leadership. My visits to Saudi Arabia have demonstrated the scale of this transformation, which goes beyond achieving Vision 2030, to set an example for global innovation.
What is the importance of sharing? Oxidian in Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2024?
Black Hat Middle East & Africa is one of the most influential events in the cybersecurity industry, providing an unparalleled platform to showcase a comprehensive range of identity security solutions. Striking the perfect balance of scale and substance, across its diverse offerings from engaging presentations and interactive workshops to fruitful meetings and conversations with potential and existing partners and customers, Black Hat Expo has it all in one place.
Our participation in the exhibition not only strengthens Oxidian’s position as a leader in identity security, but also allows us to contribute to promoting technological innovation and implementing best practices in this field. Through this event, we aim to deepen our presence in the local and global cybersecurity ecosystem while demonstrating our commitment to providing innovative, effective and reliable solutions.
What partnerships or collaborations has Oxidian established in Saudi Arabia? Do you plan to establish more partnerships?
We are committed to expanding our presence in Saudi Arabia, in line with the country’s long-term technology goals, and are already collaborating with leading organizations across the Kingdom, including two major Saudi government agencies, and are planning to establish a branch in Saudi Arabia by 2025 or 2026. This reflects our commitment to developing local business opportunities, and we have active partners distributing our products across the region and are in discussions with potential new strategic partners.
What is the purpose? Oxidian The main during its participation in the Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2024 exhibition?
At Black Hat Middle East & Africa 2024, we aim to bring our expertise and innovations in identity security to the forefront. Our solutions, including Identity and Access Management (IAM), Privileged Access Management (PAM), and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) management, are designed to help organizations adapt to emerging challenges. We are proud to launch our flagship product for 2025 – Axidian Shield this year, an advanced identity threat detection and response (ITDR) solution.
- What new solutions or products is Exidian showcasing at Black Hat Middle East & Africa 2024?
We are proud to launch Axidian Shield, our latest advanced, purpose-built identity threat detection and response (ITDR) solution. Key features of Axidian Shield include:
- Proactive detection and response to credential-related attacks.
- Adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA) that outperforms traditional methods.
- Minimal manual effort for deployment and operations.
- Seamless user experience, works invisibly without disrupting operations.
- Implement zero trust with minimal changes to existing infrastructure.
Axidian Shield is a cornerstone of comprehensive identity security because it provides protection at the domain level, not just the client level. Modern threats require such advanced solutions because traditional two-factor authentication is no longer sufficient. Client-side protection alone is also not enough. Organizations must build domain-level protection, which we call next-generation two-factor authentication, that users cannot bypass or disable.
Even for companies with existing identity security products, ITDR adds a foundational layer of protection, taking IT security to a whole new level. There are only a handful of similar products on the global market, and as we look to 2025, Axidian Shield will be our flagship product that will address the evolving challenges of identity security with unparalleled effectiveness.
- What are the most needed cybersecurity solutions in Saudi Arabia? What are the main risks facing the Kingdom?
As we mentioned, the Saudi Arabia market is rapidly evolving, driven by remarkable technological advancements every year, however, this advancement also brings increased cyber risks, and with the rise of digital services and digital identities, Saudi Arabia has become a greater target for cyber attacks, which are negative consequences of technological advancement, and this makes it imperative for organizations in the region to maintain a high level of IT security.
Advances in technology, including artificial intelligence tools, have made cyberattacks cheaper and easier to carry out. As a result, attacks are expected to increase in size and become more sophisticated. Moreover, attackers are increasingly targeting the human factor, which remains the weakest link in the cybersecurity system.
The focus in cybersecurity is currently shifting from traditional perimeter protection to identity security protection, as identities have become prime targets for cybercriminals. Organizations must now have solutions that go beyond traditional multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged access management (PAM) to include identity threat detection and response (ITDR) capabilities. ITDR solutions are essential to detect, respond to, mitigate and mitigate identity threats, ensuring a stronger defense in today’s evolving threat landscape.
- What message would you like to share with businesses in the Middle East regarding cybersecurity challenges?
First, I would advise organizations not to overlook security in their digital transformation journey. We see cybersecurity as a key factor in implementing new technologies and services, and companies should start thinking about security as an integral part of any new services, and it should be within each new process, not after the new process has already been implemented.
Another thing I would like to share with you is that there are usually two ways to choose IT and cybersecurity products to enhance your enterprise infrastructure: the first way is the “one-stop shop”, i.e. you deal with a well-known distributor and buy all the products from him, and the second way, which is better, is to choose the best product for a specific sector and buy different products from different distributors.
The first method may seem easier because you don’t have to evaluate the products as much, but the downside is that when a distributor has many products for different purposes, he can’t focus on one area and provide the best solutions. By following the second preferred method, you will get customized solutions but you will take the time and resources to select, monitor and implement each product, especially with so many new distributors entering the market. My advice to organizations is to maintain a balance and choose a distributor who focuses on a specific area and has many products in his portfolio.
At Oxidian, we focus on identity security. We are experts in this field and offer a comprehensive product suite in this specific area. Choosing solution providers that offer products related to a specific subject area will save time and help in getting advanced solutions to achieve the best results in specific projects.
Another secret to overcoming challenges is not just having the latest technology, but also partnering with a service provider who is willing to invest their own time and resources. In this context, we launched the Oxidian Academy, which provides training, consulting, implementation and support services. We aim to enable organizations to build the right infrastructure to use the products efficiently.
- How do you view the role of Saudi Arabia in the field of global cybersecurity, and how does Oxidian contribute to this effort?
Saudi Arabia is a role model in rapidly adapting to modern challenges, and we fully support these efforts and welcome the sharing of our expertise in identity security. Through products like Axidian Shield, we aim to help organizations in Saudi Arabia build resilient IT infrastructures while enhancing their technological capabilities.
